BELLVUE, Colo. (AP) -- Massive wildfires in drought-parched Colorado and New Mexico tested the resources of state and federal crews Monday and underscored the need to replenish an aging U.S. aerial firefighting fleet needed to combat a year-round fire season.
Wyoming diverted personnel and aircraft from two fires there to help with a 60-square-mile wildfire in northern Colorado. Canada also loaned two aerial bombers to fight the Colorado blaze following the recent crash of a U.S. tanker in Utah. And an elite federal firefighting crew arrived to try to begin containing a fire that destroyed at least 118 structures.
All told, about 600 firefighters will be battling the fire some 15 miles west of Fort Collins by Tuesday, said incident commander Bill Hahnenberg.
Elsewhere in New Mexico, firefighters made slow progress against the largest wildfire in state history. The blaze has charred 435 square miles of forest since it was sparked by lightning in mid-May, and was 37 percent contained Monday.
Arizona's state forestry division dispatched two water tenders and 15 fire trucks to New Mexico, which also welcomed the arrival of a DC-10 jetliner that can lay a 100-yard-wide, mile-long line of retardant or water.
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People watch as a wildfire burns out of control, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The fire grew to more than 31 square miles within about a day after being reported. The Coloradoan / Dawn Madura
A slurry bomber drops a load of retardant on the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
A wildfire burns out of control, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The Coloradoan / Jessica Cuneo
Fire crews work to contain a wildfire near homes in an evacuation area, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The fire grew to more than 31 square miles within about a day after being reported. It has destroyed or damaged 18 structures. and smoke has drifted as far away as central Nebraska, western Kansas and Texas. The Denver Post / RJ Sangosti
Tracy Greenwood embraces her daughter Mariah Greenwood, left, as they watch the High Park wildfire burn around their home west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
Kyle Brumley, 4, watches as a wildfire burns out of control, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The fire grew to more than 31 square miles within about a day after being reported. AP / Jessica Cuneo
Crystal Foust watches from County Road 56 as a helicopter flies over a wildfire burning in a mountainous area about 15 miles west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Sunday, June 10, 2012. The Denver Post / AAron Ontiveroz
People gather on a hill to watch the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
A helicopter collects water from Horsetooth Reservoir to drop on a wildfire, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The Coloradoan / Jessica Cuneo
A helicopter makes a drop as a wildfire burns out of control, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The Coloradoan / Dawn Madura
A wildfire burns out of control, Monday, June 11, 2012, near Fort Collins, Colo. The Coloradoan / Dawn Madura
A plume of smoke rises above the mountain peaks as the High Park wildfire burns west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
Eugene Doyle watches as the High Park wildfire burns near his house west of Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
People watch from a hill as the High Park wildfire burns near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
People watch from a hill as the High Park wildfire burns near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
A helicopter flies through smoke after making a water drop on the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
Fire burns in trees behind homes on the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. AP / Ed Andrieski
A burned home located on Wolf Springs Loop near Ruidoso, N.M. shows the devastation caused by a wildfire, Monday, June 11, 2012. Albuquerque Journal / Adolphe Pierre-Louis
A swing overlooks a burned home located on Wolf Springs Loop near Ruidoso, N.M., on Monday June 11, 2012. Albuquerque Journal / Adolphe Pierre-Louis
Arizona's Hopi 5 Hotshot Ian Nuvamsa, at left, watches as teammate Peterson Hubbard, cuts a burning stump while battling the Little Bear fire near Ruidoso, N.M., on Monday June 11, 2012. Albuquerque Journal / Adolphe Pierre-Louis
Mark Stambaugh, owner of Angus Firewood surveys the charred debris left after his business fell victim to the Little Bear fire near Ruidoso, N.M., on Monday, June 11, 2012. Albuquerque Journal / Adolphe Pierre-Louis
A burned SUV at a home located on Wolf Springs Loop near Ruidoso, N.M., shows the devastation caused by a wildfire, Monday June 11, 2012. Albuquerque Journal / Adolphe Pierre-Louis
A heavy helicopter carries water to drop on the Little Bear wild land Fire Monday June 11, 2012 in Ruidoso, N.M.. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated in this resort town due to the fire. AP / Juan Carlos Llorca
Fire burns through trees on the High Park wildfire near Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, June 11, 2012. The wildfire is burning out of control in northern Colorado, while an unchecked blaze choked a small community in southern New Mexico as authorities in both regions battled fires Monday. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) AP / Ed Andrieski
Daniel Rivas, right, shows Pandora Violet, another evacuee, where his house is located inside the Little Bear Fire area on a map Monday June 11, 2012 in Ruidoso, New Mexico. AP / Juan Carlos Llorca
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